Arc-lamp.



G. M. LITTLE.

ARC LAMP,

APPUCATION mu) ocr. s. 1913,

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn' GEOnGEQM L'ITT n; 70FPITTSBURGH, PE1\TNSYLVANIA, Assrenon To WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC Ann MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

ARC-LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 3, 1913. Serial N 0. 793,112.

To all wkomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn M. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of; Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and'State elf-Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improwement in Arc-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My'invention relates to arc lamps, and it has reference to those commonly known as flaming and luminous arc lamps in which the electrodes, on being consumed in the arc, yield fumes; and vapors.

More particularly, my invention relates to improvements in condensing chambers, whereby a defined circulating system for the arc gases may be developed which'will co operate to increase the Stability of the arc.

In' an arc lamp, the arc'established betweenthe cooperating electrodes is subjected to forces resulting from improperly directed air currents, -magnetic fields, movements and presence of solid obstructions, etc., which tendto change the are from mal to abnormal shape by deflec ion often causinga rupture of the are. It is well known that a draft of air properly directed to oppose the elongation of the arc will increaseits stability.

. In inclosedflamingarc lamps, it is inadvisable to admit atmospheric airduring the operation of the lamp, and, consequently, condensers must be employed wherein the fumes and vapors containing suspended matter or soot-may condense and deposit before being returned to the arc chamber.

One object of my invention is to provide, in a focusing arc lamp of the character above indi'cated,;a means whereby a definite circulation of the arc gases'may be effected for increasing the stability of the arc and, at the same time, permit the'arc'gases, on being generatedat the arc, to. flow freely into the condenser and deposit therein suspended matter before being'returned to the arc chamber.

Without attempting to illustrate the various forms that my invention mayassume, I will describe a specific embodimentof the principle of my invention as applied to a common form of an arc lamp, but those skilled in the art will readily understand that my invention is not limited to the specific structural details disclosed herein.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1. is a View, partially in elevation and partially in section, of an inclosed arc lamp that is constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View, taken alongthe line A-A of Fig. 1 in which a portion of the struc ure has been broken away. I

The arc, which extends between adjacent and opposite ends of a lower electrode 1 and an upper electrode 2, is contained in an arc chamber 3 provided by an inclosing globe i. The globe a: is closed at the bottom and registers at the top with a condenser 5 which is positionedabove the arc chamber 3. Communication between the arc chamber 3 and the condenser 5, which are closed to preclude the admission of atmospheric air thereto, is afforded'by inner and outer annular passage-ways 6 and 7, respectively. An outer globe 8, substantially inclosing the inner globe 4i and cut off from communication with the condenser 6 by means vof an imperforate ring 9, provides a dead air space 9 by means of which the inner surface of the globe is maintained substantially uniformly hot during the operation of the lamp, thereby precluding the deposition thereon 0f vapors emanating from the arc. I 1

The condenser 5 extends between adjacent and opposite surfaces ofan upper wall 10 and a lower wall 11, each made from spun metal and having the contour of an inverted conicalfrustum., The outer edges of the metal walls 11 and 10 are reversely curved nd secured to one another substantially as shown in Fig. 1. The walls 10 and 11 laterally extending beyond the widest part of the globe l, enhance the heat-dissipating property of the condenser 5 by reason of a considerableportion of the condenser being removed from the lines of heat radiation from the arc chamber 3. The condenser 5 is sub-divided into a plurality ofsimilar and non-intercommunieating chambers 12 by spaced and radial partitions 13, as shown in Fig. 2. Positioned within each of the chambers 12 and spaced substantially equidistant from and parallel to the inclosing walls 10 and 11 is a division device l-fl of sheet material, which is secured in any well known manner to the partitions 13. The division device 1% coop rates to provide the annular openings 6 and 7 and'also' divides the chambers 12 into channels 15 and 16 which communicate with one another near the outer boundary of the said chamber, substantially as shown in the figure.

As the electrodes 1 and 2 are consumed, the are frequently becomes elongated and takes an undesirable bent or bowed position by reason of the disturbing forces acting upon the arc. Unless the disturbing force or forces are neutralized, the are, being distorted from its normal shape, will be elongated until it becomes ruptured. Assuming that the are temporarily takes the position indicated at 17 in Fig. 1, which position is one of many that the arc may occupy and which shows it elongated by reason of the action of some disturbing force, the heated fumes and vapors emitted therefrom will tend to flow upwardly from the arc chamber 3 into that comparatively cool compartment 12 which is positioned above and adjacent to the are when in this position, the said upwardly flowing gases carrying with them the soot and finely divided dust projected from the electrodes during their consumption. The hot gases passing freely through the opening 6 which is located in their path of flow, will be directed into the proper compartment 12 and upwardly by means of the channel 15 and then downwardly through the channel 16. The channel 16 discharges the gases into the arc chamber and directs them in proximity to the are 17 As the gases flow through the said channels, they are brought intointimate contact with the cool walls 10, 11, 13 and 14: upon which the suspended material is deposited; The cleansed gases, flowing from the compartment 12 which is positioned directly above the are 17 and through the annular opening 7, into the arc chamber 3, create a downward draft which tends to force the arc toward the center and away from the sides of the electrodes, thereby increasing its stability. As the arc moves around, the different compartments 12 are called in to play, and the arc finds no side position in which it can remain. The direction of flow of the gases which are emitted from the are 17 is indicated in Fig. l by arrows.

It is desirable that, as the gases emerge from the channels 16, they have a considerable velocity imparted to them. This is effected by properly proportioning the size of the channels 16 and that of the openings 7. In the device shown, I have so shaped the channel 16 that the gases are properly directed before emerging into the arc chamher for creating the desired horizontally and centrally directed draft of air. Of course, if the arc is burning in or near the center of the arcing ends of the electrodes, all the compartments will act simultaneously and will neutralize the side drafts.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the focusing type lamp is so constructed as to be provided with an effective condenser, in addition to means for creating a draft of air at substantially right angles to the arc and in proximity thereto, whereby the arc is made more stable, which results in making the operation of the lamp more satisfactory.

It will, of course, be understood that the device herein shown and described is only illustrative of means for accomplishing a specific purpose, and that the details of construction and the arrangement and location of parts may be materially varied from what is herein set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an arc lamp, the combination with electrodes, of a condensing chamber having means for so segregating and directing the cool gases from the are that the gases are directed at points on the periphery of the arc in accordance with the position thereof.

2. In an arc lamp, the combination with electrodes, of a condensing chamber having means for so segregating and directing the cool gases from the are that the gases are directed at points on the surface of the arc in accordance with fluctuations of the same.

3. In an arc lamp, the combination with electrodes, of a condensing chamber having selective means for segregating and directs ing from all sides of the arc the are gases in a manner to stabilize the arc.

4. In an arc lamp, the combination with electrodes, of a condensing chamber having means for dividing the arc ases into a plurality of separate drafts and directing them each home position above the arc toward a point within the same, the said drafts forming a system of separate radial forces tending to center the are.

5. In an arc lamp, the combination with electrodes, of a condensing chamber having means for dividing the arc ases into a lurality of separate drafts and directing t em each from a position above the are toward a point within the same, the said means being also adapted to selectively vary the strength of the several drafs in accordance with fluctuations in the arc.

6. In an arc lamp, the combination with electrodes, of a condensing chamber having means for dividing the arc ases into a lurality of separate drafts and directing em each from a position above the arc toward a point within the same to stabilize the are.

7. In an arc lamp, the combination with electrodes, of a condensing chamber having means for dividing the arc gases into a lurality of separate drafts and directing t each from a position above the arc toward a point within the same, the said means being also adapted to vary the strength of the several drafts in accordance with the degree of departure of the are from its position with respect to the electrode.

8. In an arc lamp, the combination with electrodes, of a condensing chamber comprising two concentric walls joined at their outer perimeter and disposed in a position above the are, a partition member positioned intermediate the condenser walls and extending from a position adjacent the inner and open perimeter of the condensing chamber to a position within and near the outer j oinder of the condenser walls and a plurality of vertical and radial partition members within the condensing chamber, the said radial partition members being adapted in conjunction with the aforesaid partition member to divide the condenser chamber into compartments for the convection of are gases toward the arc to surround it with stabilizing drafts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of Sept,

GEORGE M. LITTLE. Vit-nesses B. B. HINES, M. C. MERZ.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

